Writing on the Window

I decided I wanted to learn how to spin my own yarn because I was too cheap/poor to keep buying nice yarn for my projects even though I’m kind of yarn snob. I have a ton of wool sitting in a bag next to my desk but I haven’t really touched it yet. I always put off trying new techniques because it freaks me out and I hate failing.

So anyway, in attempt to procrastinate a little longer, Evie and I took a trip to the thrift store yesterday and I bought a bunch of sweaters to unravel. That’s how I came across the cashmere sweater (which will be staying in sweater form). So last night and today was spent unraveling a men’s extra large sweater. I can’t remember the brand but it was a good one. The sweater was probably sold for at least $50 when it was new and I grabbed it for four bucks. 

I passed over a lot of sweaters because I didn’t like the colors and it wasn’t until a half hour ago that I realized I had RIT dye and a lot (a LOT) of brownish/tan yarn and that the two would go together swimmingly. (Most of the sweaters there were made out of cotton, which is cool with me because I love cotton but it’s way harder to dye than animal fibers.) So now, I’m sitting in my bathroom, stirring a five gallon bucket of yarn and dye. I don’t even know how much yarn I got out of this sweater but it’s a stupid amount. Hundreds and hundreds of yards. 

And it’s going to be red and beautiful. 

Back to the subject: spinning. I think I’m going to be done with spinning for a while after the batch of wool I have now is used up. (Unless spinning the wool gives me something super amazing.) Ripping apart $4 sweaters and ending up with at least $50 worth of yarn is totally more my style. I get to customize it and I’m upcycling something that would have either sat in a thrift store for years or ended up in a landfill somewhere. Plus, the money I spend at the thrift store goes to charity. I get to be cheap and green (and probably a little red because I didn’t have gloves to wear.)

I’ll post pictures of the yarn when it’s all done. It’s going to be awesome.

Why do the super amazing things have to be so expensive?! I would love this necklace but $54 is a little much for me. Not that she doesn’t deserve it! This is a fantastic design! So I’m throwing it out there just in case someone tin TumblrLand would like to give this artist some much deserved money for her Red Dot Number 3 necklace. (Click through to get to her shop.)

This heart is the entire reason I wanted to learn how to crochet. Actually, these hearts are:

In the winter, I tried to learn how to crochet because I wanted to make this garland so bad. I had my mother in law come over and show me (she’s awesome at crocheting and knitting) and when she taught me, I thought I understood but as soon as she left, she must have taken the crochet knowledge with her.

I got frustrated and put down my crochet hook after that. I wanted to learn but I just couldn’t wrap my mind around it. Until last week, that is. I’ve been seeing so many adorable crochet and knitting projects online and with winter coming, I had to try again. As it turns out, I learn better from reading than having someone show me. Which is weird apparently. 

Last night I finally reached my goal of being able to make these hearts! I’m so proud of myself I can barely keep it in. I’ve been carrying that little heart with me all around the house because I love it so much. It might not be a hard pattern (I really don’t know if it is… It doesn’t seem like it) but I did it! 

That’s such a silly little goal to hold onto for months but it’s the little things, ya know? 

If you want to make the garland just click through the picture of my heart. The pattern and tutorial are there.

The record ring is back in the shop!

I picked this a few days ago in our backyard. It was the only flower back there and it was in the middle of the yard, oddly.